§ Mr. JAMES THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the circumstances responsible for the Committee recently appointed to consider alterations in the method of testing the eyesight of persons entering the merchant service are also applicable to the railway service; and whether, having regard to the public service rendered by railway servants, he can extend the terms of reference of such Committee, so as to include the various and impracticable tests now enforced by railway companies, with a view of a uniform and practical test being adopted?
Mr. BUXTONThe sight tests in the mercantile marine are carried out by the Board of Trade, whereas in the railway service the responsibility rests with the companies. The circumstances are consequently not the same, and I do not think I could usefully extend the terms of reference to the Committee in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend. Any recommendations which may be made by the Committee will, no doubt, receive full consideration from the railway companies.
§ Mr. HUDSONWill a separate Committee be appointed to deal with this question, seeing that some of the recommendations of the Royal Medical Society applied to railway servants as well as to the mercantile marine?
Mr. BUXTONI suggest to the hon. Member, at all events, to wait until the Committee has reported, and thrown light on the matter; then I will consider his suggestion.